Should You Take Your IEP Fight to the Media? Read This First.

You should tell the media about this! It’s a really common piece of IEP advice. And, I get it. Our kids are treated horribly sometimes. They get bullied, sometimes even by school staff. Kids are denied much-needed academic interventions, often for reasons none other than a power trip.

It’s natural to think, “If more people knew about this, I bet things would change!” But should you go to the media with your IEP concerns?

And while I will share personal examples later in the post, know that yes, I have personal experience with this. Because sometimes, instead of bringing justice, it backfires.

I’m not going to list a bunch of examples or statistics about how our kids are mistreated. They are. Happens all day long, all across this country.

The fight for Special Education Services is beyond my comprehension at this point. I used to think that it was all about money. That because schools don’t have enough money, they were panicked and just doing whatever they could to not provide services they cannot afford.

But as I sit here in 2025, many school districts are paying more in attorney fees than they are the services. That is, they will spend $10k-$15k to fight a parent for the ability to deny a $3k service or evaluation. It makes no sense.

Should you go to the Media with your IEP issues?

Short answer is this. You have two options, yes or no. If you choose no, well, I don’t know what’s going to happen. Depends on what other path you pursue.

If you choose yes, there are two more options. Public opinion is either going to agree with you, or it won’t. Can you handle if it public opinion doesn’t go your way?

Let’s take a look at what could happen. First, I want to address social media. Then, the rest of this article will be about traditional news media.

Think Twice Before Posting Your IEP Fight on Social Media

I get it—you’re frustrated, angry, and looking for support. You want people to know what’s happening to your child, and social media feels like a safe place to vent. But here’s the hard truth:

Anything you post online can (and will) be used against you in a due process hearing.

School districts have attorneys, and those attorneys know how to dig through your social media to find anything that could discredit you. A simple post about your child’s struggles can be twisted into:

• “See? Even the parent admits their child has behavior issues.”
• “They’re emotional and irrational—clearly not acting in the child’s best interest.”
• “This parent is just looking for attention, not real solutions.”

Even if you think your privacy settings are locked down, assume that nothing is truly private online. Screenshots get taken. Posts get shared. And before you know it, your words are being used against you in a legal battle.

If you’re in the middle of filing a complaint, mediation, or due process, keep your fight offline. Instead, document everything in emails and formal communication—because in the end, that’s what actually matters.

Public Opinion Can Go Either Way—Are You Ready for That?

Before you go to the media, consider this:

• Some people will support you and rally behind your cause.
• Others will villainize you, twist your story, and turn the blame back on you and your child.

Are you ready for that?

Because once your story is out there, you don’t control the narrative anymore. You’re at the mercy of the reporter, the editor, and the public’s interpretation of your child’s struggles.

And I’ll be honest: That doesn’t always work in our favor.

How the Media Twists Special Education Stories

Here’s a perfect example.

A group of special education parents was promised that their story would be told fairly. They thought this was finally their chance to be heard—to expose the injustices in special education and show how hard parents fight for their kids.

Then the article came out.

Here’s how the media framed them:

“I won’t have to decide whether Charissa Stone is the mother of a child whose disabilities really do qualify her for the extra attention of special ed, or just the epitome of the modern-day suburban Philadelphia Tiger Mom: overanxious, over-involved, and infuriated that the school district considers her daughter…average.”

That’s right—instead of being portrayed as an advocate, the mother was painted as an entitled, over-the-top parent demanding more than her kid needed.

And it got worse.

“The costs of special ed eat regular programs,” says Penn’s James Lytle. “Districts end up cutting art or music, and that generates antagonism. Meanwhile, special-ed parents get the districts to pay for all sorts of therapy—ballet lessons, horseback riding—that seem extreme.”

Ballet lessons?! Are you kidding me?!

Our kids just want to learn how to read—but somehow, the media spun the story into special education parents being greedy and taking resources away from general education students.

This is not an isolated incident. It happens over and over again.

• Special ed parents are labeled as demanding, unrealistic, or selfish.
• Disabled kids are blamed for draining school resources.
• The real issues—schools denying legally required services—are ignored.

This is why I urge parents to think carefully before going to the media.

You can read the full article here: Where All the Children Are Above Average. And seriously, what is up with that title. Oh well, enough of Ms. Hingston and her uninformed slanted writing. Let’s move on.

Old Misconceptions About Special Education Are Alive and Well

Many people still believe:

• That special education kids don’t belong in general education
• That they take resources away from other students
• That they’re all behavior problems who are “dangerous” or “disruptive”

And if you think going to the media will erase those biases, think again.

Just look at how people respond to these stories when they’re published.

• A nonverbal autistic child was left at the wrong house by his school bus. Instead of outrage, the comments section was filled with: “Dad is just looking for attention.”
• A teacher was caught bullying a disabled student. The public response? “Teachers are underpaid and overworked, give them a break.”
• A student was dragged down a hallway by school staff. Commenters blamed the child, speculating that he must have “deserved” it.

It’s ugly. It’s demoralizing. And unfortunately, it’s the reality of public opinion.

There are many incorrect perceptions out there about our kids. Things like they don’t deserve to be in school with regular kids. That they’re all behavior problems, dangerous, and detracting from the gen ed kids’ education. And, don’t you know–it’s because of our kids that your high school cannot have a marching band or lighted football stadium. Yep, whatever it is that your school cannot afford, it’s because of kids like mine.

Even 40+ years after IDEA 1975, many of these perceptions are alive and well. And with the internet, people feel emboldened and empowered to tell you just how they feel about your kid.

There have been many special education stories in the news media. In New Jersey, one autistic child was bullied by his teachers. And, another was dropped of at the wrong house by his school bus and left there (he is non-verbal).

Frustrated parents took to the media to be heard. Here is some of what they received in response.

Perception about Special Education

This one hits home for me. Mostly because my child attends a school that is what you would call a “Life Skills” school. Very little traditional curriculum is taught there, because that is not what kids like my son need. Yet, anyway.

But look at this comment, posted on yet another special needs newspaper article.

Lovely, isn’t it? This is not what she wants for “her” tax dollars. In fact, she doesn’t want to have to pay for him at all. Despite the fact that my tax dollars (and yours, too) benefit her all the time–roads, EMS, public workers, etc. But I guess it better not go to ‘those’ kids, huh?

Trolls, Social Media, etc.

I realize that some of the examples I’ve offered are old. However, the information is still relevant. And, many news outlets delete comments after a certain amount of time, so some of the examples I really wanted to show are no longer available.

Here is a video of an Ohio teacher dragging a student through a hallway. And yep, you guessed it.

Some of the comments will be from trolls and some will not. Sometimes the trolls empower others to speak how they really feel.

Several years ago, my next-door-neighbor told me that she was upset that “those mentally retarded people are allowed to vote.” We haven’t spoken since. And we have been living next door to each other since 1999. Sometimes you just don’t know how people really feel, and one day, they show you.

My personal experience

I’ve been in the trenches. I’ve seen exactly what happens when a special education case gets national media attention.

Back in 2012, I was involved in a high-profile discrimination case against a school district. We had mountains of documentation—text messages, emails, direct quotes from staff proving discrimination against disabled students.

It was all there, in black and white. We thought, “How could anyone see this and not be outraged?”

The case went public.

And here’s what happened:

• The school district doubled down. Instead of admitting wrongdoing, they went on the attack, claiming the parents were just stirring up trouble.
• The local community turned against the student and family. For years, the child was ostracized.
• The family received threats. Yes, actual threats—from people who thought special education was already taking too much from the school district.

Did the media attention help the child?

No.

Did it force the school to change its policies?

Not really.

Did it make my job as an advocate harder?

Absolutely.

Please, just think it through.

I think when parents want to go to the media, it’s a knee-jerk, emotional reaction. And, we wrongly assume that once this injustice is brought to light, everything will change. Lastly, the decision is yours to make. But, please have a plan for what you will do if things don’t go your way.

When (and If) You Should Go to the Media

I’m not saying you should never go public with your story. But I am saying that you should think it through before you do.

• What do you hope to accomplish?
• How will you protect your child from backlash?
• Are you prepared for negative public opinion?

If you’re considering it, have a plan:

• Choose the right reporter. Find someone experienced in disability issues, not just looking for a dramatic headline.
• Document EVERYTHING. Have clear evidence, timelines, and proof.
• Make sure your child is protected. Anonymity is rarely guaranteed—make sure your family is safe.
• Know what success looks like. If you’re hoping for a big, systemic change—understand that it rarely happens overnight.

If your goal is real change, there are other ways to make an impact:

• File a state complaint—it forces the district to respond and correct violations.
• Get media attention the right way—through disability advocacy organizations that know how to frame the story.
• Work with legislators—push for laws that actually hold schools accountable.

The bottom line? Going to the media feels like the nuclear option—but make sure it’s a bomb that lands where you want it to. Because once the story is out there, you can’t take it back.